NCAA Basketball: Duke, Michigan State fall in latest top 25 power ranking
By Joey Loose
22. Villanova (2-0)
Following Jay Wright’s retirement in 2022, things looked quite different at Villanova last season. Overall it was a very underwhelming performance in Kyle Neptune’s first season at the helm, but bigger things are expected in his second campaign. The Wildcats have a stronger roster, a healthy Justin Moore, and look like a team that’ll make noise again in the Big East.
We’re not exactly getting a clear picture about the Wildcats from their opening week, though there’s no complaints about a 90-63 win over American to open the season. Forwards Tyler Burton and Eric Dixon both had 15 points in a solid performance for Villanova. Four days later Villanova squashed D1 newcomer Le Moyne, handling the Dolphins 83-57. This time it was Justin Moore standing out, leading all scorers with 21 points.
Villanova has taken care of their business to this point and that’s all you can really ask. Nothing they did against American or Le Moyne was going to turn heads, unless things went really poorly of course. They get their first road test of the season at Penn next week before a home game against a Maryland team that struggled in the opening week of the season. Very soon we’ll see just what these Wildcats can do on the court.